A frontier chart allows you to compare the value of the projects in your portfolio against the costs of those projects. The left axis of the chart represents increasing value as it travels up and the bottom axis represents increasing cost as it travels to the right. The individual projects in the portfolio are points on the graph are plotted in the chart based on their value and cost.
Once your projects are placed in the chart, it becomes easier to visualize which projects are projected to deliver the best value for their cost.
The visibility of projects in the chart is controlled by the project list under the chart. Only projects visible in the list are visible in the chart.
| Chart Control |
Description |
| Left |
Selects a field to define the left axis of the chart |
| Bottom |
Selects a field to define the bottom axis of the chart |
| Value |
Selects a field that will be the value associated with each project. |
| Cost |
Selects a field that will be the cost associated with each project. |
| Labels |
Selects a field to generate labels for each dot in the chart.
|
| Group |
Selects what each dot represents. |
| Color |
Selects a field to color each dot. |
| Shape |
Selects a fiedl that defines the shape of the dots. |
| Annotate |
Select additional information to display in the chart. |
Chart options
You can use the Chart Options Panel to add additional elements that can highlight or otherwise enhance parts of the chart.
To access the Chart Options Panel:
- Open the frontier chart in your portfolio.
- Click the three parallel lines icon in the upper-right corner of the chart area.
This opens the Chart Options Panel. The chart options are described in the tables below.
Legend Controls
| Chart Option |
Description |
| Legend font size |
The slider adjusts the legend's font size. Move the slider to right to increase size for better readability or to the left to decrease size and fit more items in the legend. |
| Legend on bottom |
Check the box to render the legend at the bottom of the chart instead of the right. |
| Legend title |
Enter a title here to override the default legend title. You can also type a space to have no title. |
Sizing controls
| Chart Option |
Description |
| Annotation font size |
Adjust the sizing of the optional labels next to each bubble/symbol. |
| Bubble/symbol size |
Adjust bubble/symbol size for readability. |
Axis controls
| Chart Option |
Description |
| Axis label font size |
Adjusts the sizing of the axis labels. This does not affect the axis tick labels. |
| Axis padding |
Adjust padding between plot area and axes to accommodate more bubble labels. |
| Axis labels outside |
Display the axis labels on the outside of the chart axes, rather than their default position. |
| Left axis label |
Enter a label to override the default left axis label text. You can also type a space to display nothing. |
|
Bottom axis label
|
Enter a label to override the default bottom axis label text. You can also type a space to display nothing. |
| Bottom axis number formatting |
Select an option to override the default number format of the x-axis. |
| Left axis number formatting |
Select an option to override the default number format of the y-axis. |
| Invert left axis |
Reverse the order of the items on the y-axis, which can be helpful for quadrant and box plots. |
| Invert bottom axis |
Reverse the order of the items on the x-axis, which can be helpful for quadrant and box plots. |
|
Left axis range
|
Enter minimum and maximum values to override the y-axis range. Suffixes are allowed. |
| Bottom axis range |
Enter minimum and maximum values to override the calculated x-axis range. Suffixes are allowed. |
| Hide axis tick labels |
Remove the tick labels from numeric axes. This can be helpful when relative value is more important than absolute value. |
Highlighting controls
| Chart Option |
Description |
| Highlight selected items |
Outline the bubbles/symbols/bricks in the active portfolio or scenario in blue. |
| Highlight selected labels |
Apply bold formatting to labels for the bubbles/symbols in the active portfolio or scenario. All other labels are dimmed. |
| Budget marker |
Add a spending limit line to the frontier chart. |
| Value marker |
Add a target value threshold line to the frontier chart. |
Miscellaneous controls
| Chart Option |
Description |
| Second annotation row |
Select a second field to annotate each bubble/symbol. The field will be displayed beneath the primary annotation. |
| Show gridlines |
Extend axis ticks into the graph area as gridlines. |
